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19 August 2021 | Story André Damons | Photo Charl Devenish
Ebeth Grobbelaar is a Scientific Manager in the South African Doping Control Laboratory (SADoCoL) who is responsible for the review and approval of results at SADoCoL, to ensure compliance with the technical requirements of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

For Ebeth Grobbelaar, Scientific Manager in the South African Doping Control Laboratory (SADoCoL) – which is housed by the University of the Free State (UFS) – her work at the laboratory is profound, as fairness on and off the playing field is vital to her.

“Creating a fair playing field for athletes to compete carries a heavy responsibility, as an anti-doping violation impacts the athlete’s career,” says Grobbelaar, who is responsible for the review and approval of results at SADoCoL to ensure compliance with the technical requirements of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Women are the cogs in the wheel

According to her, anabolic steroids, the multiple analytical disciplines, and rapidly changing technical requirements from WADA have attracted her to the sciences of anti-doping. Sixty percent of her colleagues at SADoCoL are women.  “They are the cogs in the wheel, ensuring the laboratory's smooth operation, taking daily challenges in their stride, and excelling in what they do as analysts and administrative staff,” says Grobbelaar.

Grobbelaar says there are many options in the anti-doping field for women inside and outside of the laboratory. Some of the most influential people in the anti-doping community are women – in their roles as laboratory directors, leading researchers, directors of athlete passport management units for international sports federations, or national anti-doping agencies in various capacities.

With all the responsibilities, come challenges and pressure – especially in a year when the Olympic Games take place. 

Women should learn how to say ‘no’ 

“An Olympic year always has additional stress due to the large number of samples before the games. This year, the pressure is more, with not all accredited laboratories operational, as well as disrupted testing schedules due to COVID-19.  Enabling athletes to compete in fairness on the world stage is a responsibility and a privilege.”

“My faith is my anchor.  As far as possible, I try to leave my work behind when I leave the laboratory, and concentrate on enjoyable things such as gardening, my dog, reading, and walking with my dog. On challenging days, something sweet also helps,” explains Grobbelaar the pressure and how she copes with it. 

This Women’s Month, Grobbelaar says, women should learn how to say ‘no’ to create time for rest and play. Says Grobbelaar: “For many women, ‘doing your best’ or saying yes means working yourself to the point of a mental and physical breakdown. Having the courage to say no, loving oneself through rest and play, replenishing our spirits, and realising that we are unique and precious in God’s eyes, is a challenge that many women face.” 

“Rest and play can take different forms, such as having coffee with a friend or being creative.  The important thing is that your rest or play activity brings joy to your soul and energises you. Ask your friends to support and assist you,” she concludes. 

News Archive

Meet our Council: Ndaba Ntsele – Inspiring entrepreneurs
2016-04-19

Description: Ndaba Ntsele Tags: Ndaba Ntsele

Mr Ntsele
Photo: Stephen Collett

 To call Mr Ndaba Ntsele just a businessman seems like a bit of an understatement. The Executive Chairman and co-founder of Pamodzi Group Limited lives and breathes business, entrepreneurship, and wealth creation. He is also a member of the Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) since September 2013.

His greatest passion is entrepreneurship, and sharing his ideas of self-employment with young (and old) South Africans. “I preach self-employment wherever I go. Everyone knows that unemployment is a major problem in our country. However, people often expect the government or big corporations to provide them with jobs. I like to influence people to start thinking about working for themselves, thereby creating opportunities for employing others,” he says.

His entrepreneurial drive extends even to his time on the UFS Council. Now in his second term, Mr Ntsele has been well placed to get a sense of the kind of contribution the university and its students could make to South Africa, and even further afield.  

“In addition to training students for all the other important industries in South Africa, I think the UFS is ideally situated to create agricultural entrepreneurs. The Free State is one of South Africa’s prime agricultural areas, after all. Food security is an issue worldwide, and it is an area in which we could make a real contribution by training food producers, food technologists, and agricultural specialists. In fact, I think the UFS could become the leading agricultural institution in the country.”

Being the best is something that he strives for continually, while high standards are not something he shirks. In fact, he believes that Council members should hold an institution accountable for maintaining the highest standards possible, whether it is in governance, financials, procurement, or any other areas of importance in an institution.

As the executive chairman of a multi-billion African-owned group with assets across the globe, Mr Ntsele does not have a great deal of free time. However, he enjoys sitting down with MBA students and graduates to share his views about entrepreneurship.

“If I can change their mind-set from ‘others must employ me’ to ‘I need to create my own employment’, then I will feel as if I have accomplished something,” he says.

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